Dough-dividing machine.



No. 784.451. PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

F. H. VAN HOUTEN. DOUGH DIVIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.21.1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W1mg 55- INVENTOR W K g; Jag/a PATENTED MAR. 7, .1905. F. H. VAN HOUTEN.

DOUGH DIVIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 21.1908.

5 SHBET8-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAR. '7

F. H. VAN HOUTBN. DOUGH DIVIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1350.21. 1903.

5 SHEETSSHEBT 3 91% human PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905. F. H. VAN HOUTBN.

DOUGH DIVIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.21.19U3.

5 BHEETS-8HEET 4,

I 1 M2442; M; Q Human PATENTED M'AR. 7, 1905.

F. H. VAN HOUTEN. DOUGH DIVI DING MACHINE.

UNITED STATES Patented March '7, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. VAN HOUTEN, OF FISHKILL-ON-THE-HUDSON, NEW YORK, AS-

SIGNOR TO DUT CHESS TOOL COMPANY, OF FISH KTLIrON-THE-H UDSON, NEW YORK,A CORPORA'llON OF NEW YORK.

DOUGH-DIVIDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,451, dated March 7,1905.

Application fil d December 21, 1903. Serial NO- 186,100.

To all whom. it may concern..-

Be it known that I, FRANK H. VAN HOUTEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fishkill-on-the-Hudson. in the county of Dutchess 5 andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDough-Dividing Machines; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad tothe l accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andto the figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to the art of com pressing and dividing materials,such as dough, to

l be worked up further in smaller masses, and

has for its principal object the production of a machine which .willeflicientl y and automatically separate comparatively small portions ofthe material from a batch, compress said portions to a desired density,and measure off the portions of equal size for which the machine hasbeen adjusted, sothat loaves of uniform weight may be produced.

In carrying the invention into effect 1 pro- 5 vide a hopper tor thereception of the dough or other material, a compression-chamber fed fromthe hopper, means for separating and for compressing the dough in thecompressionchamber from that in the hopper, and a meas- 3 uring mold ormolds formed in a movable cylinder and adapted to be moved into and outof alinement with the compression-chamber and to cooperate therewith.These elements and the novel and elficient mechanism coact ing with andoperating them to produce the desired results are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and will be described in the followingspecification, which sets forth a preferred embodiment of my invention.4 In the drawings,in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several figures, Figure 1 is a planview of a dough-dividing machine constructed ac-' cording to myinvention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation looking in the direction of arrow:12, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation looking in the direction ofarrow Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through thecentral portion of the machine, showing the parts in their initialposition ready to start a cycle 5 of operations; and Fig. 5 is a sideelevation showing the position of the parts at the end of the cuttingand compressing steps.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a hopper and 2 a compression-chambercommunicating therewith. The com pression chamber 2is fitted with aplunger 3 at one end adapted to reciprocate therein, and above thisplunger a slide-knife 4 is provided for separating a mass of dough to becompressed from the batch in the hopper and to complete its inclosure inthe compression-chamber.

At the forward end of compression-chamber 2that is, theend in front ofplunger 3-- I provide a movable cylinder 5, carrying meas- 5 uring moldsor compartments 6, having their outer openings in alinementlongitudinally upon the cylinder. In the present instancel llEtVQSllOWHfour of these molds to measure ofland divide four pieces of doughsimulta- 7 neously; but it will be understood that more or fewer may beemployed, if desired. Cylinder 5 is movably mounted in bearings upon themachine-frame at 7 and is capable of os cillation upon said bearingsone-fourth of a 75 revolution to bring the molds 6 from a verticalposition into alinement with compressionchamber 2. At the mouth of thecompression-chamber abutting cylinder 5 the walls are flared andmachined to make a'closefitting 30 joint with the cylinder-surface.

Working within molds 6 are pistons 8, each having a piston-rod 9,extending to the side 10 of the cylinder behind the molds, this side ofthe cylinder, being preferably flattened, as 5- hearings upon theniachine-l'rmnc and connected by suitable gearing toadrive-shai't1H.Mounted on the scrmv-tlwcadod portion 17 of shaft 16 is a nut 19, whichconstitutes a reciprocatory member acting under reversed revolutions ofshaft 16 and which is the principal actuating and controlling part ofthe machine.

Pivoted to the frame at 20 are upwardlyextending levers 21, connected byrods 22 to plunger 3. A weight 23 is connected by chain 24 or otherflexible connection passing ovcr suitable pulleys with the upper ends oflevers 21 and constitutes driving means for plunger 3. Levers 21 arepressed by the action of weight 23 against lugs extending upon eitherside of nut 19, so that the movements of said levers, and consequentlyof plunger 3, are governed by the movements of nut 19.

Bell-crank levers 25, pivoted to the frame at 26, each have anupwardlyextending arm connected to slide-knife 4. The other arm of eachbell-crank lever 25 has a slot 27, in which works a projection of nut 19for operating said levers.

A connecting-rod 28, attached at one end to cylinder 5 at 29 and at theother end by a lost-motion connection to nut 19, serves to transmitmotion from said nut to operate the cylinder. This lost-motionconnection comprises a slotted enlargement 30 upon rod 28, in the slotof which works a pin carried by the nut.

In order to eject compressed and divided dough from molds 6, 1 provide abell-crank lever 31, pivoted to the machine-frame at 32. This lever isoperated from the cylinder 5 by a connecting-rod 33, pivoted to saidcylinder at 34 and having a lost-motion connection with lever 31,comprising aslot 35 in the rod, in which works a pin 36 upon one arm ofthe lever. The other arm of lever 31 projects under cylinder 5 and isadapted to contact with piston-rods 9todrive pistons 8upwardly whencylinder 5 is in the proper position.

Motion is imparted to shaft 16, first in one direction and then in theother, by suitable means, such as belts running in opposite 'directionsupon pulleys on the drive-shaft 18. As shown, 37 is afixed pulley uponsaid shaft, and 38 represents loose pulleys, a belt-shifter operated bynut 19 being employed to bring the belts alternately upon the fixedpulley 37 at the proper time in the operation of the machine.

The operation is as follows: The initial position of the parts may heconsidered as that shown in Fig. 4, plunger 3 and knife 4 being in theirextreme retracted position and molds 6 facing upwardly out of alincrnentwith compression-chamber 2. A batch of dough is thrown into hopper 1 andsettles into compression-chamber 2. The drive-shaft being started, shaft16 rot-ates in a direction to cause nut 19 to begin its travel along thescrewthreaded portion 17. The action of weight 23, which presses levers21 against the nut, then causes said levers to follow the nut, therebybeginning the movementof plunger 3 and settling the dough well in thecompressionchamber. After only a slight or fractional movement ofplunger 3 in the compressionchamber the nut acting upon levers 25 inslots 27 throws knife 4 forward, cutting oli the dough incompression-chamber 2 and completely inclosing it within thecompressionchamher. As the nutadvances plunger 3 eontinucs to advanceand compresses the confined dough to a uniform cake or brick. \Vhen nut19 commenced its advance, no motion was communicated to cylinder 5through connecting- -rod 28 owing to the lost-motion connection of saidrod with the nut; but upon further movement of the nut connecting-rod 28starts the rotation of cylinder 5, the parts being so proportioned as tobring molds 6 into aline ment with compression-chamber 2 after thecompression of the confined dough is completed. the molds, forcingpistons 8 back until rods 9 engage stop 11. The parts are now in theposition shownin Fig. 5. At this time the belt shifter operates toreverse the rotation'of the shafts and the motion of nut 19 is reversed.Owing, however, to the lost-motion connection between the nut andcylinder and the fact that the nut has not yet made contact again withlevers 21, there is a'slight pause in the operation of the parts,allowing the dough to completely [ill molds 6. As the nut continues itsbackward movement it acts upon connecting-rod 28 to rotate cylinder 5,cutting off the dough in the molds from that remaining in thecompression-chamber, and when this cutting off is complete the nutengages levers 21 to retire plunger 3. During the backward rotation ofcylinder 5 connecting-rod 33 slides on pin 36 until the end of the slot35 is reached, when lever 31 is rocked and forces pistons 8 upward toeject the divided dough. The nut is now approaching its initial positionand by acting upon levers 21 and 25 restores plunger 3 and knife 4 tothe positions which they first occupied. The belts are now again shiftedand the cycle of movements begins again.

It will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5 that the stop'bar 11 has a movementcoinciding with the movement of the cylinder throughout a portion of themovement of the latter in order that the plungers 8 may be supporteduntil communication with the compression-chamher is cut-0E. Of coursethe stop-bar might be curved and wide enough to accomplish this end byallowing the ends of the stems 9 to travel over its inner surface; butin the preferred construction the screws are mounted in carriers 50,journaled on the shaft 7 and adapted to normally rest against stops '51,secured to the main frame, (as in Fig. 4,) but to be lifted by the studs34 when the plungers come The dough then passes into and fills into linewith the stop-bar and to maintain such alinement throughout that part ofthe movement of the cylinder when the mold is open tothecompression-cl'iamber.

The ends of the stems 9 only move away from the stopbar when thestop-bar is arrested in its downward movementby the rests 51, beforereferred to, when they move over the end of the lever-frame 31 inposition to be elevated by the latter to discharge the dough.

From an inspection of Figs. 1 and 5 it will also be seen that thebearings for the shaft 7 and cylinder are adjustable by set-screws 52,thereby permitting the cylinder to be set up tightly against the face ofthe compressionchamber to prevent any leakage or squeezing out of thedough between the two.

1 have employed the term cylinder in describing the mold-carryingelement;'but it will be understood that this element is not necessarilya'complete cylinder in form. Many changes alsojn the arrangement ofparts and details of construction may be made without departing from theinvention, and these, I wish it understood, fall strictly within thescope and purview thereof. It will also be understood that myimprovements and sub combinations of parts are applicable to machinesfor dividing and working up materials other than dough.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a hopper, a compres sion-chamber in communicationtherewith, a mold adapted to be brought into and out of alinement withsaid compression-chaml'ier, a plunger in said compression-chamber,apowerdriven shaft having a portion provided with a screw-thread, and anut cooperating with said screw-thread and controlling the movement ofsaid plunger.

2. The combination of a hopper, a com pression-chamber in communicationtherewith, a mold adapted to be brought into and out of alinement withsaid compression-chamber, a plunger in saidcompression-cham ber,a power--driven shaft having a portion provided with a screw-thread, a weighthaving a flexible connection with said plunger to operate the same, anda nut cooperating with said screw-th read to permit or restrain theoperation of the weightf 3. The combination of a hopper, acompression-chamber in communication therewith, a mold adapted to bebrought into and out of alinement with said compression-chamber, aplunger in said compression-chamber,a powerdriven shaft having a portionprovided with a screw-thread, a nut cooperating with said screw-threadfor controlling the movement of said plunger, and means for reversingthe direction of rotation of said shaft.

4. The combination of a hopper, a compression chamber in communicationtherewith, a

mold adapted to be brought into and out of alinement with saidcompression-chamber, a plunger in said compression-chamber, a shaftprovided with a screw-tln-ead, a nut mounted upon the screw-threadedportion of said shaft, means for rotating the shaft alternately inopposite directions, a lever connection between said nut and plunger,and means operated by the movement of said nut for moving said mold intoand out of alinement with said compression-chamber.

.5. The combination of a hopper, a compression-chamber in communicationtherewith, a mold adapted to be brought into and out of alinement withsaid compression-chamber, means for compressing the contents of saidchamber,a shaft provided with a screw'th read, a nut mounted upon thescrew-threaded portion of said shaft, means for rotating the shaftalternately in opposite directions, and a connection between said outand mold whereby said mold is caused by the movement of said nut to moveinto and out of alinement with said compression-chamber.

6. The combination of a hopper, a compression-chamber in communicationtherewith, a plunger in said chamber, a mold adapted to be brought intoand out of alinement with said compression-chamber, a reciprocatorymemher, and independent connections intermediate the plunger and moldand said reciproca-- tory member for actuating said plunger and saidmold.

7. The combination of a compression-chamber provided with a plunger, amovable cylinder carrying a plurality of molds adapted-to be broughtinto and out of alinement with said comprossion-chamber, a reciprocatorymember, and independent connections intermediate the plunger and.cylinder and said reciprocatory member for actuating said plunger andsaid movable cylinder.

8. The combination of a hopper, a compression-chamber in communicationtherewith, a plunger in said compression-cham ber,a weight connected foradvancing said plunger, a knife to separate the material to becompressed in the compression-chamber from the body of material in thehopper, a 'reciprocatory member, a lever connection between saidreciprocatory member and said knife, and a second and independent leverconnection between said reciprocatory member and said plunger.

9. The combination of a hopper, a compression-chamber in communicationtherewith, a plunger in said compression-chamber,a weight connected foradvancing said plunger, a mold adapted to be brought into and out ofalinement with said compression-chamber, a knife to separatethe materialto be compressed in the compression-chamber from the body of material inthe hopper, a reciprocatory member, and independent connecting mechanismfrom said reciprocatory member to said knife and to said plungerarranged to cause the complete separating movement of said knil'e duringa fractional compressing movement of said plunger.

10. The combination of a hopper,a com pression-chamber in communicationtherewith, a plunger in said chamber, means for actuating said plunger,a mold adapted to be brought into and out of alinement with saidcompression-chamber, a knife to separate the mate rial to be compressedin said compressionchamber from the body of material in the hopper, areciprocatory member, a connection between said reciprocatory member andsaid plunger, and an independent lever connection between saidreciprocatory member and said knife.

11. The combination of a hopper, a com pression -chamber incommunication therewith, means for compressing the contents of saidchamber, a movable cylinder carrying a mold adapted to be brought intoand out of alinement with said compression-chambe r, a piston in saidmold, a reciprocatory member. mechanism controlled by said reciprocatorymember for actuating said compressing means and said movable cylinder,and a connection from said cylinder to said piston for ejecting thecontents of said mold when the latter is outof alinement with saidcompmssion-chamber.

12. The combination of a hopper, a compression-chamber in communicationtherewith, a movable cylinder carrying a mold adapted to be brought intoand out of alinement with said compression-chamber, a reeiprocatorymember, and a lost-motion connection between said reciprocatory memberand said mold-carrying cylinder.

13. The combination with a hopper, a compression-chamber incommunication therewith, a movable cylinder carrying a mold adapted tobe brought into and out of alinement with said compression-chamber, apiston in said mold, a reciprocatory member, an operative connectionbetween said reciprocatory member and said mold-carrying cylinder, and alost-motion connection from said cylinder to said piston for ejectingthe contents of said mold when the latter is out of alinemont with saidcompression-chamber.

5 14. The combination with a hopper, a compressionchamber incommunication there with, a plunger in said compression-chamber, aweight connected for actuating said plunger, a knife to separate thematerial to be compressed in the compression-chamber from the body ofmaterial in the hopper, areciprocatory member, a lever connectionbetween said reciprocatory member and said knife, a lever connectionbetween said reciprocatory member and said plunger, a mold-carryingcylinder, and an operative connection from said reciprocatory member tosaid mold.

15. In a dough-dividing machine, the combination with the hoppercompression-chamber and mold for receiving the dough from thecompression-chamber, of the plunger and knife movable toward the mold inthe same direction, mechanism for giving the knife an initial movementin advance of the plunger and mechanism for holding the knife andplunger advanced during the filling of the mold; substantially asdescribed.

16. In a dough-dividing machine, the cornbination with the hoppercompression-chamber, mold movable into and out of registry with thecompression-chamber and means for discharging material into said mold,of an adjustable stop controlling the capacity of the mold, means formoving said stop in unison with the mold when the mold is open to thecompression-chamber and means for discharging the material from themold; substantially as described.

17. In a dough-dividing machine, the combination with the hoppercompression-chamber, mold movable into and out of registry with thecompression-chamber and a plunger in said mold for regulating itscapacity, of an adjustable stop for limiting the inward movement of theplunger, supports for the stop movable with the mold when the latter isopen to the compression-chamber and a reciprocatory member for advancingthe plunger to discharge the contents of the mold; substantially asdescribed.

F. H. VAN HOUTEN.

Witnesses:

C. VAN Nos'rnau, THOMAS DURAN'r.

